Beautiful War: Studies in a Dreadful Fascination

Philip D. Beidler's book "Beautiful War: Studies in a Dreadful Fascination" explores why we continue to make art, and thus beauty, out of war. It investigates the unending assimilation and pervasive presence of the idea of war in popular culture, the impulses behind the making of art out of war, and the unending and debatably aimless trajectories of war itself. The book argues that the representation of war in the arts has always been, and continues to be, an incredibly powerful force, providing an aesthetic inspiration while serving ends as various and complex as ideological or geopolitical history, public memory, and mass entertainment.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2019
Publisher: The University of Alabama Press

Beautiful War: Studies in a Dreadful Fascination is a profound and comprehensive exploration of the enduring fascination with war as a subject of art, delving into the complex reasons behind our continued creation of beauty in the face of conflict. Philip D. Beidler's critical inquiry spans a vast range of artistic expressions, from Shakespeare's plays to Victorian battle paintings, from the post-World War I writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Virginia Woolf to contemporary films such as The Hurt Locker and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Through his meticulous analysis, Beidler reveals how the representation of war in art has evolved, from a mere portrayal of a savage reality to a concept that shapes our perception of the war.

As these works of art become ubiquitous in contemporary culture, they inevitably bleed into our art and media, altering our understanding of war. Beidler argues that the arts have always played a powerful role in shaping our perception of war, serving various purposes, including ideological or geopolitical history, public memory, and mass entertainment. Beautiful War is a bold and vivid account of the role of war and military conflict as a subject of art, offering valuable insights to literary and cultural critics, historians, veterans, students of art history and communication studies, and anyone seeking to expand their understanding of this complex subject.

In conclusion, Beautiful War: Studies in a Dreadful Fascination is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the enduring fascination with war as a subject of art. Through its comprehensive analysis and thoughtful exploration, Beidler challenges us to confront the complexities of our relationship with conflict and the power of art to shape our perceptions and understanding of the world.

Weight: 310g
Dimension: 153 x 230 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780817359614